Helen E. (Meyn) Allen

Helen E. Allen

Helen E. Allen, 97, Hays, formerly of Ellis, died Monday, July 10, 2017 at Brookdale Senior Living Community.

She was born April 29, 1920 in Hawkeye, Iowa the daughter of Rev. Claus and Elizabeth (Bunge) Meyn.  She graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois with an M.E. Degree, and while there she sang in the college chorus all four years.  She was also a soloist in the Rock Island Lutheran Church Choir.  The choir sang in Carnegie Hall, New York City; Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois; and other concert halls in the east.  The Augustana Choir also recorded on RCA Records.

After graduation, she taught music in Illinois for three years.  She and her husband, Tad Allen, were united in marriage in 1945.  After his untimely death in 1950, Helen moved to Ellis, Kansas with her two young sons, where she began teaching in the elementary school.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at Fort Hays State University and later her Master’s Degree.

Helen retired from teaching in May of 1985 and then joined the Retired Teachers Association in Hays and was the song leader for the group.  She also gave private piano lessons in her home, continuing until she was eighty years old.  She was the choir director at Christ Lutheran Church in Ellis for 25 years.  Throughout the years, she sang at funerals as well as solos for church services.  She also sang in the Hays and Ellis Community Choirs.  She was an honorary member of the Ellis Rotary Club as pianist as well as a part-time pianist at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellis.  Occasionally she played piano and organ duets and sang in the choir at Christ Lutheran Church.  Memberships included the Young Matrons Club, Delta Kappa Gamma of Hays, 50 years of membership in P.E.O. of Ellis, lifetime member of the Fort Hays Alumni Association, and Christ Lutheran Church of Ellis.  She enjoyed classical music, travelling, gardening, and playing cards.

Survivors include her son; Jim Allen and daughter-in-law Monica, of Indianapolis, Indiana, her sister; Sylvia Coles and brother-in-law Robert, of Buffalo, New York, and three nephews; Dr. Steve Meyn and wife Heidi of Toronto, Canada, Darcy Coles of San Francisco, California, and Richard Meyn of Springfield, Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her husband Tad Allen, a son; Warren Allen, brother and sister-in-law; Drs. Werner and Faye Meyn, a nephew; David Meyn, and a niece; Susan Meyn.

Funeral services entrusted to Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and will be announced at a later date.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com